Sign



Sept. 29, 1931. c. HUMPHREYS SIGN Filed June 20. 1928 2 Sheets- -Sheet 1 M INYENTOR BY 44 ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1931. c. HUMPHREYS ,1

SIGN

Filed June 20. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR' AT'rokNEY Patented' Sept. 29, 1931 UNITED STATE s PATENT OFFICE CECIL HUMPHREYS, F JACKSON HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO PRISMO HOLDTNG CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF .NEW YORK SIGN Application filed .Tune 20,

This invention relates toprismatic signs.

Prismatic signs have been made consisting of a glass front with transparent lettering or figures therein supported in a frame, and behind the glass front strips of mirrors are laid. The mirror strips lap over each other, that is, each strip except the first and last strips have one edge behind one adjacent strip and the other edge on the top of the mate breakage.

Where the angle of the mirrors is constant that there will be certain positions ofthe sign when it will not have its usual brilliancy.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide more secure means of fastening the mirror strips in the sign.

A further object of the invention is to provide meansto prevent the mirror strips from being displaced or broken by vibration. Still another object of thjelinvention is to provide 8'0 meahsfiioaaalore ready assembly of thesign. liflnrthei' mlrject of the invention is to provide niezmsfffor supporting the mirror strips at api edetimined angle independent of the thickness of, the glass for maximum brilliancy. A still. further object of the invention is to provide means for supporting the mirror strips to permit of large signs being made.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View, parts broken off of a device embodying the principles of my invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of Figure 1 along the line 2, 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a modified form of my device with the glass face removed wherein the frame is metal.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of Fig- 1928. Serial No. 286,970.

ure' 3 along the line 4, 4:, looking in the direc tion of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a detailed view of the side walls showing the insertion of the glass in theslots. Figure 6 is a detailed view of male and female supporting bands of non-rusting material that may be used at intervals throughout thelength of large signs to support and hold the mirrors. Figure 7 is a plan view of ported by the bands. V

Figure Sis a detailed view of notched form of support for the mirrors.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the notched form of support shown in Figure 8.

' Figure 10 the mirrors sup- 1s a modification wherein the mirrorsare supported in channels.

In carrying out my invention, I propose to use the forms shown in Figures 1, 2, 8, 9 and 10, where wood frames and backs are desired. This type of sign consists of a back 9 of solid wood having channels 4 or grooves 4 or notches 20 cut therein to receive the mirror strips 3. These mirror strips 3 may be imbedded in channels 4', grooves 4 or notches i 20 in asphalt, glue, cement or other suitable material 11, 11". It should be noted that the weight of the glass is supported in the grooves, channels or notches and is not dependent upon cement, asphalt or glue as is the case in the usual form of prismatic sign and such cement, asphalt or glue is used to prevent vibration with the consequent breaking of the mirror strips. The sign 5 is stenciled on the surfaceof block 9 corresponding to the same sign on the glass cover. This permlts of a saving of material 'as the mirror strips 3 need only cover the portion of the block which is stenciled. The glass cover 2 having the transparent letters or figures therein is supported in frame 1 having sides covering block 9 and is secured by screws 7 to block 9. Separators 8 space frame 1 and glass 2 from block 9. Rubber strips 6 may be used between glass 2 and mirrorstrips 3 to support both the strips 3 and glass 2 and to prevent vibration.

'It will be seen that in an arrangement such as is illustrated in Fig. 10the lower mirrorv strip 3 isnot in contact'with the one next above it. When light approaches from the left in Fig. 10 the lower portion of each mirror will, therefore, be in a shadow caused by the upper portion of an adjacent mirror. In such an arrangement the eye of the observer may see rows of bright strips alternating with darker strips or shadow bands. In an arrangement such as Fig. 2, however,

.where the mirrors are in contact with each other substantially the entire surface which is exposed to lightrays is reflecting surface and no shadow bands are produced. hen the reflecting surface is made up of a plurality of relatively narrow mirror strips in contact with each other very thin glass mirrors may be employed. and at a short distance the line between the mirrors will be substantially invisible so that there is produced a substantially clear reflecting surface free from shadow bands and also free from undesirably reflected or refracted rays. As illustrated in Fig. 2, each mirror rests against an inclined plane surface in the back 9 and these inclined planes against which the mirror rests are separated from each other by planes at right angle thereto, which latter planes are of a width substantially equal to the thickness of the mirror glass. In Fig. 2 each mirror is shown over-lapping the other mirror for approximately half of its width. While this may be a desirable arrangement. signs of substantially the same effect may be produced if each mirror is only as wide as the width of the plane against which the mirror rests or possibly a little wider. It will be noted that in Fig. 2 the grooves 4 are so formed that the upper edge of the supporting planes is practically in the plane of the surface of the supporting block 9.

In the case of a metal frame (See Figures 3 and 4) I propose to cut slots 13 in the bentover sides 12. Sides 12 are sprung to permit the insertion of mirror strips 3 in slots 13 and sides 12 are then allowed to resume their normal form when they will retain the strips in position. The space between the bentover side walls 12 may be filled with cement, asphaltum or glue 11 to retain the strips more solidly and prevent breakage through vibration. Where large sig are made it becomes necessary to support the mirror strips at various points throughout their length and this I propose to do by means of serrated. grooved or notched bands of brass or aluminum or other non-rusting material. These bands 18. 19. can be bolted to the frame by bolts 16 at their ends. In the preferred embodiment I provide bands 18, 19, with the strips of prismatic glass between. Although I have shown both bands serrated, grooved or notched, yet I have found that one such hand may be used provided a covering band which is under tension and which will con tact with the edges of the mirror strips 3 in order that they will be retained in position.

The angle of the mirror strips 3 is not dependent upon the thickness of the mirror glass but depends upon the angle of the grooves, slots, channels or depth of the notches which can be varied as required. Curved mirror glass can be used by forming the channels, notches or grooves, with the corresponding curvature.

Modifications of the specific structure night be made and still fall within the scope of my invention.

The strips 3 of the glass when parallel and either touching or at a distance apart less than the thickness of the glass as shown in Figures 1., 2, 3, 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, will produce no shadow bands and will give maximum brilliancy.

It will thus be seen that I have shown a construction 'of prismatic sign wherein the angle of the mirror strips is independent of the thickness of the glass, wherein the mirror strips are supported to prevent displacement and breakage. wherein signs of large dimensions can be made, wherein assembly can be quickly made with a minimum use of mirror glass.

What I claim is:

1. A sign having a glass face in combination with means for reflecting back through the glass face the light transmitted through the glass face, comprising reflecting strips angularly disposed with respect to the glass face, said strips being all at the same angle and parallel to each other, the front face of each strip being spaced at a distance less than the thickness of the strip from the rear face of the adjacent strip to prevent shadow ban ds.

2. A sign having a glass face with a design thereon transmitting some light to pass therethrough and means for reflecting back through the glass face a relatively large amount of said light transmitted through the glass face, said means comprising reflecting strips angularly disposed withircm spect to the sign face of the giass said nefleeting strips parallel to eaohirothergeach of said reflecting strips overlapping/the adjacent strip and the front reflectiugvfacmof each strip positioned less than the thickness of the strip from the rear face of the adjacent strip to prevent shadow bands. a back portion to support said reflecting means and a frame for said glass face, back portion and reflecting means.

Signed at New York, in the County of New York and State ofNew York this 6th day of June A. D. 1928.

CECIL IIUh IPHREYS. 

